Port, College Place land development grants

The Port of Walla Walla and city of College Place will each get $400,000 in state economic development grant funds.

Eighteen projects across the state are sharing $10.9 million in grants from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board. The projects selected were announced last week.

The Port's $400,000 grant has been designated for the second phase of its Dodd Road Industrial Park improvements, which includes the extension of Railex Road to Railex's new wine warehouse, additional track and more.

Funds for College Place have been designated for reconstruction of College Avenue and Rose Street.

The grants are intended for building public infrastructure to support local community revitalization and economic development efforts.

The Community Economic Revitalization Board received $12 million in funding through two new temporary grant programs approved by the 2012 Legislature. Requests for the funds came in from 100 jurisdictions seeking a total of $48.3 million last summer.

"Strategic infrastructure funding is the foundation of economic growth," said Mark Urdahl, CERB chair, in a prepared statement. "Local jurisdictions need these public services to attract and support businesses and jobs."

Another $154,745 in micro-grants was awarded to nine community revitalization programs in September. The micro-grants are less than $20,000 each and require no local matching funds. For more details, visit commerce.wa.gov/cerb.